The Dive Down

By The Dive DownLeisure Games

The Dive Down episodes

April 18, 2024Episode 271: Casual Spiking RCQ Junction
On this week’s show, we manage to fill that awkward week between spoilers and set release by preparing for the upcoming RCQ season, which conveniently kicks off this weekend. We take a look at the Pioneer metagame going into the season, and some possible upgrades from Outlaws of Thunder Junction that could shake up the format too.
Everything but the water and Clif Bars
New season old decks
D00m has prepared some new decks
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
5:42 - Barenaked Heavy Play
7:35 - This week's show/housekeeping
11:17 - The Dive Down begins: Prepping for Pioneer RCQ season
22:21 - The current Pioneer meta - Tier 1
42:07 - The Tier 2 decks
56:31 - Some Cool Decks
59:50 - d00m's hot new decks for Pioneer
1:22:01 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
Anael Yahi's Data: https://twitter.com/anaelyahi/status/1779962905099665648
Metagame Mentor: https://magic.gg/news/metagame-mentor-the-pioneer-decks-to-defeat-at-april-2024-rcqs
MTGDecks.net Pioneer Winrates: https://mtgdecks.net/Pioneer/winrates
D00m's Dimir Proft: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322644#paper
D00m's Slickshot Heroic: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322647#paper
D00m's Azorius Geralf: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322650#paper
D00m's MonoB Bronco: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322652#paper
D00m's Bant Plot: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6322653#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 24 min
April 11, 2024Episode 270: The BIG Lie: We Talk About More Cards
We said we'd never lie to you, but maybe... maybe we'd forget that there were another 30 mythics left to talk about in this set. So we did it for you — more cards! This week Dave, Devon, and Shane talk about what might happen with some of these weird, weird cards from The Big Score. Do we tell a certain Jitte to stay lost? What happens when we break out the Synthesizer? What card that Devon loves left Dave and Shane quaking in their boots?
After we discuss The Big Score, we take a quick trip through Pure Modern 5 — the most recent installment of Devon's "What if there was a simpler Modern?" tournaments.
• Congrats, Tanner
• The Spoils of the Vault
• Pure Modern: Stormwing is Back, Baby
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
1:40 - Heavy Play is not impacted by the eclipse
5:52 - This week's show/housekeeping
9:03 - The Dive Down begins: The Big Score
12:20 - Lost Jitte
19:08 - Worldwalker Helm
23:00 - Simulacrum Synthesizer
27:01 - Bristlebud Farmer
30:22 - Torpor Orb
32:26 - Pest Control
36:26 - Generous Plunderer
39:13 - Sandstorm Salvager
41:25 - Harvester of Misery
44:20 - Grand Abolisher
46:35 - Legion Extruder
48:42 - Memory Vessel
49:58 - Esoteric Duplicator
53:24 - Greed's Gambit
57:16 - Sword of Wealth and Power
59:55 - Loot, the Key to Everything
1:02:52 - d00mwake's 5th Pure Modern tournament
1:17:08 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
d00m's Pure Modern 5 Meta: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/70042
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 20 min
April 04, 2024Episode 269: Cowboy Hats Will Be Worn Until Morale Improves
Our friends from across the Multiverse have flooded the desert sands of Thunder Junction, and brought a host of exciting new spoiler cards with them. We recap some of our favorite cards and other notable arrivals in Magic's 100th set.
Are all the Spree cards great or merely good? Is the emphasis on Crime cards the latest symptom of Magic's moral decline? Have we lost the Plot or simply found a new way to cast spells for free?
D00mwake likes Duelist of the Mind. Dave likes Requisition Raid. Shane likes Magda, the Hoardmaster. Stan likes Calamity, Galloping Inferno.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
6:39 - Heavy Play is not an April Fool's joke
8:54 - Housekeeping/this week's episode
11:15 - The mechanics of Outlaws of Thunder Junction
20:07 - Aven Interrupter
23:58 - Final Showdown
27:05 - Fortune, Loyal Steed
29:07 - High Noon
31:30 - Claim Jumper
33:15 - Requisition Raid/Bovine Intervention
37:16 - Getaway Glamour
37:17 - Oltec Matterweaver
41:15 - Archmages Newt
44:28 - Duelist of the Mind
48:24 - Jace, Reawakened
51:22 - Geralf, the Fleshwright
53:35 - The Key to the Vault
56:49 - Three Steps Ahead
59:10 - Kaervek, the Punisher
1:10:59 - Hollow Murauder
1:04:30 - Lively Dirge
1:07:06 - Insatiable Avarice
1:09:09 - Pitiless Carnage
1:10:40 - Magda, the Hordemaster
1:13:22 - Magebane Lizard/Reckless Lackey
1:14:40 - Slickshot Showoff
1:19:01 - Calamity, Galloping Inferno
1:20:40 - Aloe Alchemist/Bristly Bill, Spine Sower
1:22:40 - Collosal Rattlewurm
1:24:14 - Smuggler's Surprise
1:27:10 - Railway Brawler
1:29:05 - Ornery Tumblewagg/Trash the Town
1:32:40 - Akul the Unrepentant
1:34:30 - Assimilation Aegis
1:36:40 - Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius/Ghired, Mirror of the Wilds/Intimidation Campaign
1:38:04 - Oko, the Ringleader/Obeka, Splitter of Seconds
1:40:36 - Satoru, the Infiltrator
1:44:35 - Pillage the Bog
1:46:54 - Lavaspur Boots
1:50:08 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
https://scryfall.com/sets/otj?order=set&as=grid
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 52 min
March 28, 2024Episode 268: A Trip to Prague, the Zoo, and an RCQ
Results are in from LMS Prague and we break down the top decks at the 265 player event. Then chat about our experiences playing a couple versions of Domain Zoo. And D00mwake shares the secret to winning an RCQ.
The Break Down: Legacy European Tour Master Series Prague, Grand Open Qualifier (Modern)
The Dive Down: Takeaways - A Domain Zoo Experience Discussion
The Wind Down: D00mwake won an RCQ!
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
5:35 - Heavy Plan is not from Khans era
7:33 - This week's episode/housekeeping
11:35 - The Break Down begins: The Legacy European Tour Prague Modern Open!
23:18 - The top 8 results
30:27 - Winrates and matchups
48:20 - How are we feeling about Modern?
53:04 - The Dive Down begins: It's all happening at the zoo
1:17:05 - Devon won another RCQ!
1:29:51 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/59235
https://twitter.com/MTGdecks/status/1772028283762192725
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6272273#paper
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6273416#paper
https://twitter.com/d00mwake/status/1771203670236909886
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 32 min
March 21, 2024Episode 267: Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Post-Ban Modern Results & Testing
This weekend was the annual Hunter Burton Memorial Open, the first large paper Modern tournament since the recent B&R. We dive into the tournament results to see where the format is headed, try out some of the latest versions of Rhinos to see if Cascade still works, and enjoy a little Goryo's Vengeance as a treat.
Thanks to smarter people than us, we've reviewed a ton of Modern results and win percentages to get a sense for who's beating who in the latest Modern format. We review some of the expected strategies to rise in popularity in a post-Rhino Modern tournament, admire some possible up and comers to the metagame, and pontificate about where Modern can go from here.
Then Stan and Shane fire up some Rhino decks to see if the Cascade hits keep coming without Violent Outburst, and Stan finally wraps up his Goryo's Vengeance league and experiences some Scam flashbacks.
The Break Down: Hunter Burton Memorial Open results to chew on.
The Dive Down: Rainbow Rhino and Goryo's Vengeance decks to stew on.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_K4L
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
4:20 - Heavy Play gets a thumbs up
6:53 - This week's episode/housekeeping
10:16 - The Break Down begins: The HBMO Modern Event
53:34 - Stan plays Goryo's Vengeance
1:06:05 - Stan and Shane played the new Rainbow Rhinos
1:32:39 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 35 min
March 14, 2024Episode 266: Violent Reactions to a Modern Outburst
The mad lads did it, they banned our beloved Violent Outburst in Modern. We're not particularly happy about the outcome or its communication, but we discuss what it means for Cascade decks and the format moving forward.
In today's episode, we delve into the somewhat surprising B&R announcement and discuss the survivability of Cascade strategies moving forward. We assess some potential winners and losers from the news, including some decks to watch out for in the coming weeks, including Yawgmoth, Titan, Reaninator, Creativity, and more. We also express our concerns about the ban announcement lacking detailed data, as we had hoped for more transparent communication from Wizards of the Coast. The absence of bans in Pioneer also caught our attention, and we critiqued the announcement for its perceived shortcomings, urging for greater detail and insight in future communications.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_P6W
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
2:15 - Heavy Play will not be banned
4:52 - This week's episode/housekeeping
7:32 - The Dive Down begins: Violent Outburst is banned!
32:33 - How we feel about the actual ban
45:00 - Where does Rhinos go?
50:50 - Where does Modern go?
1:02:25 - What about Pioneer?
1:13:45 - Yes, we talked about Balatro again
1:29:47 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
March 11 B&R: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/march-11-2024-banned-and-restricted-announcement
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 32 min
March 07, 2024Episode 265: Why Does Everyone Hate Modern Now?
A discourse is brewing on this week's Dive Down, as the rhino boyz reflect on some of the issues Modern players seem to have with the current format and metagame. Can we close Pandora's box of free spells and triomes? Will MH3 save us? Or could WOTC do something more... drastic..?
The Break Down: Devon asked, you answered.
The Dive Down: Eight Hateful Hypotheses
The Wind Down: Love that joker... for about 20 minutes.
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_P6W
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
4:30 - Heavy Play: easy to open
8:09 - This week's episode/housekeeping
11:50 - The Dive Down begins: Modern's Hate Hypotheses
21:25 - Grief.
27:55 - Cascade.
39:15 - Free spells.
49:35 - The mana.
58:37 - The One Ring/Bowmasters.
1:07:51 - Modern is stale.
1:12:16 - Did a perfect Modern ever exist?
1:19:50 - The Wind Down: It's Balatro time!
1:38:18 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 41 min
February 29, 2024Episode 264: Rippin’ Veins & Takin’ Names at MagicCon Chicago
Last weekend was MagicCon Chicago — and wow are we tired, friends. Join the Rhino Boyz as we recap the main event, side events, and small events that made up what was a great weekend in the Motor City! Shane give a metagame breakdown of the PT. Stan takes a shot at the cup. D00m plays the hero. Dave falls in love with a bunch of real Jokers.
• They Broke It
• Rats, Assassins, Villians, and Free Spells
• We Tried It
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:38 - Heavy Play is not on a PIP
6:18 - This week's show/housekeeping
10:42 - The Break Down begins: MagicCon Chicago!
14:11 - A Pro Tour MKM breakdown
39:08 - The PT Top 8
41:46 - Final thoughts on the PT
45:04 - 4 new sets from the MC Preview Panel
1:10:53 - An interview with Blake Rasmussen and Roy Graham from WOTC
1:32:30 - The Dive Down begins: Rakdos Vampires takes a bite out of Pioneer
1:52:48 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
PT Meta on Melee: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/52679
Frank Karsten's WR%s: https://twitter.com/karsten_frank/status/1761570878737748061/photo/1
Preview card reference: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/future-sets-spoilers-february-23-modern-horizons-3-thunder-junction-bloomburrow-and-assassin-s-creed
Seth Manfield's/CFB's RB Vampires Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6211825#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 55 min
February 22, 2024Episode 263: What Are We Playing in Chicago? Plus NRG... Chicago
The MagicCon is finally upon us. We prepare for a weekend full of side events by looking at the most exciting innovations for our favorite formats, and figure out how to win the most tickets for the coveted prize wall.
We take a look at Modern and Standard results since the release of Murders, plus whatever Pioneer results we can get our hands on, to share our favorite decks in each format and what strategies appear to be performing best too.
We also stop by the first NRG Series Open of the year in beauitiful Elmhurst, Illinois to chat with Dom Harvey, Misplaced Ginger, and Christian Calcano!
Don't forget, sign up for the officicial Dive Down afterparty at thedivedown.com/chicago!
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
3:56 - Heavy Play: not complicated
6:04 - This week's show/housekeeping
12:37 - The Break Down begins: The NRG Chicago Pioneer $10k
19:05 - An interview with Derek Pite (aka Misplaced Ginger)
27:27 - Back to NRG Chicago
39:38 - The NRG Chicago Standard $5k
42:50 - The Dive Down begins: Planning for Magiccon Chicago!
48:58 - What we're playing in Modern
1:07:55 - What we're playing in Pioneer
1:18:58 - An interview with Dom Harvey
1:29:21 - Some Standard thoughts
1:42:04 - An interview with Christian Calcano
1:48:10 - Some final stuff about Magiccon Chicago
1:50:11 - Wrapping up
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 52 min
February 15, 2024Episode 262: Rainbow Rhinos and 19,442 Matches of Modern
Join us this week as we discuss how Modern has gone rainbow. The full compliment of Rhino Boys — Dave, Devon, Shane, and Stan — are together for the first time this year. We're talking about Modern in upheaval and the results from all the RCs this last weekend.
• thedivedown.com/chicago
• Rhino Supremacy, Part XXIV
• Lifelink, Hexproof, Trample, First Strike, Vigilance
Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2024 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 10% off your first 2 months of ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN_3YO
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/
Timestamps:
0:01 - A big announcement!
5:05 - Heavy mise en Play-ce
7:56 - This week's episode/housekeeping
14:51 - The Dive Down: Modern Upheaval, and not the card
17:40 - The Dallas RC meta and Leyline Rhinos
25:30 - Dallas winrates and conversion rates
38:15 - The Dallas top 8 and other Modern events
44:29 - A giant winrate matrix
56:10 - Up-and-coming decks from the past weekend
1:08:41 - Dave played Leyline Zoo
1:16:02 - Stan played Leyline Rhinos
1:23:40 - Devon played Goryo's Vengeance Asmo stuff
1:30:02 - Some brief Pioneer NRG prep chat
1:33:05 - Wrapping up
Links from this week's episode:
Denver RC listsing: https://melee.gg/Tournament/View/54549
@AzoriusI's data: https://twitter.com/AzoriusI/status/1757036428674891821?t=eUvsssljH2AZZ0U3SmOWpA&s=19
Typical Rainbow Rhinos List (from Mack Endress): https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/363672
Modern Matrix from MtgDecks.net: https://mtgdecks.net/Modern/winrates/range:custom_2024-02-09_2024-02-12
d00mwake's Goryo's Vengeance list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6173859#paper
Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?
email us: [email protected]
twitter: https://twitter.com/thedivedown
Support The Dive Down
1 hr 35 min

About The Dive Down

From the publisher's feed

The Dive Down is a weekly podcast for people who love Magic: The Gathering but like talking about other things too. From videogames, to parenting, to 3D printing, and beyond. Each week hosts Dave,…